[Tympanoplasty and age].

The relationship between age and results mainly of tympanoplasty was studied in 576 ears with chornic otitis media, including cases with cholesteatoma. These cases were divided into five age groups which were less than 15, 15-29, 30-44, 45-59, and more than 60 years age groups. Regarding types of tympanoplasty, the proportions of type III with columella increased with age. Type 0 was performed with high rate in two age groups which were less than 15 years and more than 60 years groups. The air conduction threshold in speech frequencies became high with age. This threshold elevation was mainly due to the changes of the bone conduction threshold. The improvement of hearing after tympanoplasty was about 10 dB in all age group, except for less than 15 years qroup, in which the improvement was slightly worse, mainly due to the high incidence of cholesteatoma case. The rates of reperforation of the tympanic membrane and recurrent otorrhea were 2.8 and 2.3%, respectively after the surgery, and there was no relations to age. The recurrent cholesteatoma was obtained about 20% of cholesteatoma cases and that was observed significantly high in the lower age groups.